Sealing structure



. Feb. 10, 1942. T. D.- NATHAN SEALING STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 14, 1957Patented Feb. 10, 1942 SEIALING s'rnuorunn Tracy D. Nathan, Akron, Ohio,assignor to The B. F. Goodrich Company, New York, N. Y.,' a

corporation of New York Application September 14, 1937, Serial No.163,812

( inwardly turned retaining shoulder defining 11 Claims.

This invention relates to sealing structures for joints, and isespecially useful toseal the joints between pipe sections conductingfluids under high pressure.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide sealing structuresof simple construction,

to provide effective sealing against high pressures, to provideautomatic alignment of the .sealed members, to provide for conveniencein the assembling procedure, to provide automatic adjustment of thesealed members to variations of temperature and pressure, and to providesecurity against line pull or other forces tending to separate thesealed members at the joint.

Other objects are to provide ease of assemly under the most unfavorableconditions, such as incrowded space, under water, or where access to themembers is otherwiseinconvenienhand to eliminate bolts or other rigidfastening means requiring'the use of tools.

These and other objects will appear from the following description andthe accompanying drawing illustrating embodiments of the invention, itbeing understood that the invention may a be embodied in various formswithout departing from the scope of the invention as it in the appendedclaims.

Of the drawing: Fig. l is a side view of a pair of contiguous is definedpipe members, shown as partly broken away and partly in section, withthe sealing means comprising one embodiment of the invention inoperative position therebetween, the sealing means being also shown aspartly broken away and outwardly to provide an annular ridge I9, and

I Except for the groove 22, the construction of.

-a series of fingers 2|, 2|.

the outer margin thereof. Seated in the annular space between the bellof the ,pipe I0 and the spigot end of the pipe II are an annular sealinmember I5 and an annular retaining and sealing member I6, each of whichis formed of flexible or deformable and preferably resilient material,such as soft vulcanized rubber or suitable substitutes, such, forexample, a Neoprene or polymerized vinyl halide composition.

The members I5 and I6 are formed with cooperating adjacent surfaces,preferably correspondingly bevelled. In Fig. 1 these surfaces are theinclined surface H of the member I5 and the inclined surface I8 of theretaining member I6. These surfaces are adapted to engage each other toprovide a wedging action under the force of the fluid pressure, whichpresses one of the members against the wall of one of the conduitmembers and the other against the wall of the other member, suchmovement being permitted by the flexible nature of the rings. y

To provide for holding the retaining ring IS in place in the bell, themargin of the ring adjacent the mouth of the bell preferably is oifsetthe edge face adjacent thereto is inclined so as to provide space fordeflection of the ridge toward the spigot when the retaining ring I6 isforced into the bell. The ridge is adapted to snap into thelead-lock-groove I3 and to abut against the inturned retaining shoulderIt when the ring is in place. To facilitate further the passing of theridged margin I9 into the leadlock groove I3, such margin may be dividedby axially and radially disposed slots 20, 20, into ring may be-furtherlessened where the fingers are attached to its body by an annular groove22 extending partiallythrough the body of the ring as in themodification shown in Fig. 2, the slots 20 preferably communicating withthe groove 22.

Fig. 2 is the same as that of Fig. 1. This construction permits theplacing of :the retaining ring in the space between the spigot and thebell Fig. 4 is a further modification of the invenwithout the exertionof great force and without the use of special tools, it being possibleto insert the ring by hand, and a strong resistance to forces tending tomove the ring axially out of the annular space is nevertheless provided.

In order to provide greater resistance to undeslrable displacement ofthey retaining ring outwardly of the bell, the fingers 2| may be formedof a stiffer composition than the body of the ring The stiffness of themetal members in the groove of the bell and with the wall of the spigotprevents movement of the spigot outwardly of the bell and provides asecure anchorage of the retaining ring. Alternatively, the increasedresistance may be-supplied by other reinforcements incorporated in thisportion of the ring I6.

The sealing ring I5 is preferably formed at one of its rear margins witha lip 24, inclined radially inward, of small enough circumference to huthe spigot, and an outwardly inclined lip of large enough circumferenceto bear against the wall of the bell, both lips being of resilientrubber-like material so as to provide an effective lip-sealing action.made longer than the inner lip so as to abut against a shoulder 26defining the inner extent of the bell and. thereby to space the innerlip well away from the endof the spigot where it will-not be damaged bybeing crushed between the spigot and the bell or have its sealingeffectiveness lessened.

In assembling the joint, the sealing ring l5 may be flexed inwardly atone part of its periphery to reduce its apparent circumference and dueto its pliable nature may be passed into theibell where it will tend torecover its original shape. The spigot may then be shoved into place andthe retaining ring, which has'been placed over the spigot, may then beadvanced into the bell until its margin engages in the lead-lock groove.As an optional method both rings may be inserted in the bell first andthe spigot then shoved therethroughinto place. A lubricating solutionmay be applied to the surfaces to reduce friction in assembling theparts. Where the joint is assembled under water, as in a ditch, thewater alone will act as a sufficient lubricant. After the joint isassembled, then the line u put under pressure,

and the lips 24, 25 will initially seal the Joint and the internal fluidpressure applied to the sealing ring will cause it to move toward theretainin ring. The inclined surface l1, l8 will permit one ring to movewith relation to the other providing a wedging action serving also toseal the wedge members against the pipe members which action willincrease as the pressure increases. This wedging action alone iseffective to provide a good seal, but it is preferred to use also thesealing lips 24, 25 for maximum effectiveness both as to the additionalsealing at the lips and as to utilizing th fluid pressure to bestadvantage in obtaining the wedging action. 4 I

' In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 3 a pair of plain endpipes 30, 3| are inserted in a sleeve 32 which may have a spacing fenc33 at its center and inwardly turned flanges 34, 35 at its ends. Thesealing members 36, 3'! are identical to that previously described,being formed likewise of deformable or flexible material preferablyresilient rubber-like material such as vulcanized soft rubber orsuitable substitutes therefor such as Neoprene or polymerized vinylhalide compositions, and having inwardly inclined lips 38, 39,outwardlyin clined lips 40, 4|, and in- The outer lip 25 is preferablyclined marginal surfaces 42, 43. Where, however, the sleeve is suppliedwith the inwardly turned retaining flanges 34, 35, the retaining andsealing rings 44, need not be supplied with locking ridges or fingers,the retaining rings being of rubber-like deformable resilient materialso a to be contracted or expanded readily and being formed with inclinedfaces 45, 41 to cooperate with the inclined faces of the sealing rings36, 31 and the opposite faces 48, 49 being merely plain radial surfacesto engage against the shoulders 34, 35, the latter preferablyterminating close to the pipe sections 30, 3| to assure a strong endwiseabutment for the retaining rings.

Both sets of rings 44, 45 and 36, Bl may be inserted in the sleevebefore the pipe sections are entered therein, and the pipe sections aremerely pressed into place, a lubricant being preferably used to reducefriction in assembling the parts.

In any of the forms of the invention a double seal is provided by thelip sealing action of the sealing rings and wedging action of thetapered rings against each other at higher pressures whereby the sealingmembers become more firmly packed in the joint by pressure directlyapplied to the sealing rings by the fluid pressure within the pipes.

The absence of 'bolts or other clamping members provides simplicity ofconstruction and sima As all forces applied to the sealing and retainingrings are compression forces, security and long life of the sealingmembers are assured. The rubber members are well protected fromoxidation and sunlight by being almost completely enclosed and sealedagainst. the metal parts. The deformable and resilient nature of thesealing members provides for' efficient sealing regardless of theirregularities in the surfaces of the metal parts or variations in thdimensions or shape of the pipes.

While the invention has been illustrated in its' preferred forms, it isobvious that other forms of the device may be made without departingfrom the scope of the invention.

I claim:

. 1. A fluid-seal pipe-joint assembly comprising an inner pipe member,an outer pi e member surrounding the inner member and therewith definingan annular space, a resilient gasket mounted in said space having oneend of the gasket exposed to the fluid-pressure and the other endprovided with a wedge face, said gasket at its fluid-pressure contactingend being provided with tapered lips pressing resiliently against saidpipe members, and a wedge gasket of resilient material held againstmovement outwardly of the space and engageable with the wedge face ofthe first said gasket so that axial movement of the first said gasket asa result of the fluid pressure against it causes a wedsing of thegaskets against each other and the Pipe members.

2. A fluid-seal pipe joint assembly as defined in claim 1 in which theouter pipe member comprisesan annular shoulder at the outer portion ofthe space and the second said gasket is held against movement outwardlyof the space by a plurality of strut members at its forward end ofgreater length than the radial dimension of said space disposed with oneend of each against said shoulder and the other end of each against thethe gasket.

3. A pair of fluid-pressure sealing gaskets for the annular joint spacebetween inner and outer pipe members, one of said gaskets being aretaining gasket adapted to'abut at its forward end against an abutmentin the joint to resist outward movement of both gaskets as a result offluid-pressure against the other gasket, the retaining gasket comprisinga body of resilient rubber-like material and having a wedge surface atits rear end, the other said gasket being of resilient rubber-likematerial and having a wedge face at its forward end cooperable with thewedge surface of the retaining gasket and inner and outer lips at itsrear end adapted to engage the pipe members, the outer lip projectingrearward and radially outward and the inner lip projecting rearward andradially inward of said body and both lips tapering to fine edgesadapted to bear against the pipe members upon flexure of the lipsagainst the members to bar the pressure fluid and utilize the same toforce the gasket forwardly against the retaining gasket.

4.-A pair of fluid-pressure sealing gaskets as defined in claim. 3 inwhich the retaining gasket comprises a plurality of strut members at itsforward end of greater length than the radial dimension of the jointspace.

5. A fluid-seal pipe joint assembly, comprising the combination withinner and outer pipe members defining between them an annular spacecommunicating with pressure of fluid in the pipe,

complementary substantially wedge-shaped resili'ent sealing ringsoccupying the said annular inner pipe member to constitute abutments forspace, means for wedging the said sealing rings against each other andagainst the said pipe members responsively to pressure of fluid againstthe rings, therebymaintaining continuously a tight seal between therings and the pipe members while permitting changes in relative positionbetween the'pipe members, and means on one of the said pipe membersdefining ring-retaining recesses for retaining the rings in continuousengagement with each other and with the pipe members.

6. A fluid-seal pipe joint assembly, comprising, in combination, aninner pipe member, an outer pipe member, the pipe members defining anannular space between them communicating with pressureoi fluid flowingthrough the pipe members, an annular retaining rim at each end of theannular space, cooperating resilient wedgeacting packing means withinthe annular space abutting against the retaining rims and held inposition thereby and also engaging the pipe members, and means forleading fluid from the pipe members into pressure engagement with thepacking means for forcing the said means into ing means are driven morefirmly into position. 8. A flexible spigot and bell joint comprising, apigot member and a bell member defining besurrounding the inner memberand therewith defining an annular space, a resilient axially-elongatedgasket moun'ted-i'in said space having one end of the gasket. exposed tothe fluid-pressure and the other end provided with'a wedge face,-

said gasket at its fluid-pressure contacting end being provided withtapered lips pressing resiliently against said'f'pipe members, and awedge gasket of resilientmaterial held against movement outwardly ,ofthe space and wedging the leading end portion of the first said gasketdirectly between the-wedge gasket and a pipe member 50 that axialmovement of the first said gas-' ket as a result of the fluid pressureagainst it causes a wedgihg of each gasket between a pipe member and theother gasket.

10. A pair oji fluid-pressure sealinggaskets for the annular joint spacebetween inner and outer pipe. members, one of said gaskets being aretaining gasket adapted to abut at its forward end against an abutmentin the joint to resist outward mouement of both gaskets as a result offluid-pressure against the other gasket, the retaining gasket comprisinga body of resilient rubber-like material and having a wedge surface atits rear end, the other said gasket being of resilient rubber-likematerial comprising an elongated body having a wedge face for wedgingits forward end-directly between the wedge surface ofthe retaininggasket and a pipe member and inner and outer lips at its rear endadapted to engage the pipe members, the outer lip projecting rearwardand radially outward and the inner lip projecting rearward and radiallyinward of said body'and' both lips tapering to fine edges adapted tobear against the pipe members upon flexure of the lips against themembers to bar the pressure fluid and utilize the same to force thegasket forwardly against the retaining gasket and pipe member.

11. A pressure-fluid sealing gasket for the annular joint space betweeninner and outer pipe members to seal the space while the rear end of thegasket is exposed to fluid pressure and the forward end is slidableagainst a wedge surface in the joint, said gasket being of resilientrubber-like material and comprising an axially elongated body having awedge face at its front end adapted to engage the wedge surface of thejoint for wedging its end between said surface and a pipe membenandinner and "outer lips at the rear end of the body adapted to engage thepipe members, .the outer lip projecting rearward and radially outwardand the inner lip projecting rearward and radially inward from the body,and

pressure within the pipe line, said resilient packboth lips tapering tofine edges adapted to remain against the pipe members upon fiexureof thelips against the members to bar the pressure fluid and utilize the sameto force the gasket torwardly against the wedge surface and pipe member.

TRACY D. NATHAN.

3 tween them an annular recess communicating with the interior of thesaid members, a plural-

